Photographer in Allen TX ~ Photographing your own kids

Fall time is crazy time for pretty much all photographers. There is a hustle to get those perfect fall photos, just in time for Christmas cards. Here in the Dallas area, we really only have two months when the temperature is perfect for photo sessions. It’s easy to lose track of time and to forget to capture your OWN memories. So, this year, I decided to take one night out – one prime date for photo sessions – and use it for my own kiddos. Below are photos of my session in Richardson, TX.

I get questions all the time about photographing small kids – apparently, children don’t want to look at their parents and smile pretty for the camera. So, here are a few tips and tricks that I use on my OWN kids (because, yes, even I have trouble with my own kiddos):

1) Bribery – Yep, it works. I use smartees candy because they are small. You can give one and they are happy for a photo. Give another and they are happy again. The gift that keeps giving.

2) Jokes – I tell jokes. No matter how bad the jokes are, my kids laugh at them. The grosser the jokes, the better. My kids current favorite: Why did the chicken cross the road? Answer, to poop on the rooster on the other side. That joke resulted in photo number 1 below 🙂 Find whatever makes them laugh. I LOVE a laughing photo.

3) Surprise them – Oh, no, mommy has a bug in her ear!

4) Never, ever beg…. mommy just wants ONE photo of you guys, please!!!! Children smell desperation and will feed on it haha.

I recommend hiring a pro at least once a year when you have young children. These precious babies are changing right before your eyes and you don’t want to miss a single moment. Once your kiddos get older and aren’t changing so much, you will still want updated memories at least every 1-2 years. And YOU (the parents) should be in these photos!